Supporter and truss



April 6, 1954 B. BRODICK SUPPORTER AND TRUSS Filed 001;. 27, 1952 FIG |||HHH III M "HI Patented Apr. 6, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SUPPORTER AND TRUSS Benjamin Brodick, Bronx, N. Y. Application October 27, 1952, Serial No. 317,121

6 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to trusses and like devices by means of which pressure or supporting surfaces may be applied to the body at a desired location or locations, and embodies, more specifically, an improved form of such device by means of which the wearer may be afforded greater comfort as well as facility for removing and replacing certain of the Wearing parts in order that they may be cleansed.

The invention further has for an object the provision of a truss of the above character in combination with a suspensory, whereby in addition to combining these two functions in a single structure, the truss structure is more effectively maintained in a desired position during wearing thereof.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide, in a structure of the above character, means for assembling and removing wearing parts thereof with ease to facilitate replacement and cleaning of the parts.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent as it is described in further detail in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a view in front elevation showing the relatively rigid mounting plate upon which one or more pressure pads may be mounted, in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a view in front elevation showing one of the pressure pads that may be used on the truss of the present invention;

Figure 3 is a view in rear elevation showing a combined truss and suspensory in accordance with the present invention, but in which the mounting plate and pressure pads are not illustrated;

Figure 4 is a partial view in elevation similar to Figure 3, showing the manner in which the mounting plate and pressure pads are mounted upon the supporting member;

Figure 5 is a view in section taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Figure 6 is a partial view in front elevation showing the elements of Figure 4.

Referring to the structure illustrated in the above drawings, a combined truss and suspensory is illustrated as being provided with a flexible supporting member In upon which a suspensory portion I l is mounted, and being formed of spaced elements 12 and 13 connected by a stretchable elastic section such as the band M. The elements [2 and [3 are formed, respectively, with pockets I5 and It, as well as with positioning loops I1 and I8, respectively. A waist band I9 is provided in accordance with conventional structure, being adapted to be secured to a buckle 20 formed on the front face of the element l2. Additional suspensory positioning bands 2| and 22 are adapted to be secured to the respective buckles 23 and 24, also in accordance with known practice.

The truss structure comprises one or more pressure pads 25 which may be formed of a suitable yielding non-metallic material, such as rubber, and preferably are formed as cup-shaped members, as illustrated in Figure 5. These pads are provided with retaining strips or loops 26 which are adapted to receive a relatively rigid plate 21, preferably of metal, and when so positioned, to be maintained between either of the loops l1 and I8 and the respective pockets l5 and [6. In mounting the elements in assembled position, the plate 21 is inserted into the loops l1 and I8 and pockets [5 and 16 with one or more of the pressure plates 25 secured in position upon the plate by means of the loops and pockets. The elastic band I4 serves to maintain the elements normally in the assembled position and, when so mounted, the elastic band I4 is held against stretching by means of a strap 28 or other suitable element which is secured at one end 29 to the front face of one of the elements l2 and I3. The other end of the strap 28 is suitably secured to the other of the elements l2 and I3 as, for example, by means of a buckle 30.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a combined truss and suspensory is provided having means for maintaining the same effectively in any desired position with one or two pressure pads positioned in any desired fashion for the comfort of the wearer. The structure affords substantial comfort to the wearer and yet provides the required rigidity of support. Moreover, the pressure pads and related supporting structure may be conveniently disassembled to facilitate laundering of the device.

While the invention has been described with specific reference to the accompanying drawings, it is not to be limited save as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A truss comprising a supporting member, a pair of spaced apart pockets on said member, said pockets having open ends in opposition, a stretchable elastic section between said pockets to enable the pockets to be moved apart and normally urging said pockets towards each other, a relatively rigid plate longer than the distance between said pockets when said elastic section. is unstretched and having its ends engageable in and retained by said pockets, a pressure pad, and means on said pad engaging and securing the pad to said plate.

2. The truss set forth in claim 1 comprising releasable, non-stretchable means secured to said supporting member and spanning said elastic section to restrain the latter from stretching and retain the ends of said plate in said pockets.

3. The truss set forth in claim 1 comprising a flexible, non-stretchable strap secured to said supporting member adjacent one of said supporting pockets, an engaging device on the supporting member adjacent the other of said pockets to releasably engage said strap'and limit the stretching of said elastic section to less than the amount required to release the plate from said pockets.

4. The truss set forth in claim 1 wherein the supporting member comprises supporting sections on opposite ends of said elastic section and extending below it, and suspensory means carried by said supporting sections.

5. The truss set forth in claim 1 comprising a pair of loops on said supporting member between and spaced from said pockets, said loops being on opposite sides of said elastic section and receiving said relatively rigid plate, said pressure pad being secured to said plate between one of said loops and the adjoining pocket to restrain said pad from any substantial shifting movement along said plate relative to said member.

6. The truss set forth in claim 1 in which said pressure pad comprises a cup-shaped member formed of yielding non-metallic-material and the means on said pad engaging and securing the pad to said plate comprises a retaining 100p secured to the back of said pad.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 977,098 Kayser Nov. 29, 1910 2,280,395 Hansen Apr. 21, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 431,935 Italy Mar. 10, 1948 

